The city council voted to legalize backyard hens. We officially won.
May 17, 2016
Final supporters
Hundreds of cities, large and small, across the United States have legalized the keeping of backyard hens on city lots of all sizes. In Estherville, citizens in residential zoning are denied the pleasure of keeping backyard hens, despite the fact that many other similar cities in Iowa allow it already.
Reasons why chickens should be allowed in Estherville:
-Chickens are fun, friendly pets with educational value for children about where food like eggs comes from
-They can provide food security for poor families
-They lay healthier eggs compared to store-bought eggs
-They give gardeners high-quality fertilizer
-They control flies and other pests, not add to them, and dispose of weeds and kitchen scraps that otherwise might end up in the landfill
Issues:
-Noise: If you don’t have roosters, chickens aren’t noisy. Hens cluck and peep softly all day long and at their loudest are around 60-70 decibels (comparable to human conversation) a dogs bark is around 90-100 decibels
-Smell: Animals poop. Ten chickens will make about as much waste as a 40 lb. dog, and their coop won’t smell if it is kept clean. Much like a dog kennel.
-Predators: It should be the responsibility of the chicken owner to keep his or her chickens safe from predators — just like it is for cat owners, say — , and there is ample advice available on how to do so.
*Disease/ Avian flu (This issue was brought up by local factory farm in opposition to urban chickens in last discussions by Estherville City Council)
Avian flu is a concern to commercial poultry production where birds are raised in huge flocks in overcrowded confinement and fed the cheapest food possible. This causes high stress and compromised immune systems in the birds.
"When it comes to bird flu, diverse small-scale poultry is the solution, not the problem." (The 2006 Grain Report) The fact is that a few backyard chickens are more closely monitored than any bird raised in the masses.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website states- "There is no need at the present to remove a (family) flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian flu."
Updates
April 27, 2016
The momentum behind this is incredible. Estherville is finally ready for backyard hens.
Reached 100 supporters
April 27, 2016
48 Comments
Growing and raising food on your own property is not a new idea, it's an American tradition with roots in the 'victory gardens' of WWI and WWII.
I grew up with chickens and honestly I never remember them being loud or smelly. In fact.. I barely noticed they were there.. The dog Kennel we had on the other hand I remember having to do much more maintenance to. Being a farm community it does seem kind of silly we can't have chickens.
I see no problem with it. If I had a home of my own I would definitely consider getting some of my own. There are some loud dogs in my neighborhood, some that bark all day long. Therefore no reason hens should not be allowed. I do agree with making sure proper clean up and care takes place. Best of luck with this petition!
Backyard chickens should not be to blame for spreading bird flu...the CDC states clearly that it is a naturally occurring virus in waterfowl...and there's no stopping ducks or other aquatic birds from roaming around.
My brother in laws chickens are 100+ feet from the road, tucked between and shed and garage, pinned in, and take up all of 25sq ft in the back yard. They are also 100+ feet from any neighbor. They cause no harm or distraction to any. Let them stay!
Nothing better then fresh eggs in the morning. I would take them over dogs and cats any day.
Those chickens aren't bothering anyone
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
The city council voted to legalize backyard hens. We officially won.
May 17, 2016
Final supporters
Hundreds of cities, large and small, across the United States have legalized the keeping of backyard hens on city lots of all sizes. In Estherville, citizens in residential zoning are denied the pleasure of keeping backyard hens, despite the fact that many other similar cities in Iowa allow it already.
Reasons why chickens should be allowed in Estherville:
-Chickens are fun, friendly pets with educational value for children about where food like eggs comes from
-They can provide food security for poor families
-They lay healthier eggs compared to store-bought eggs
-They give gardeners high-quality fertilizer
-They control flies and other pests, not add to them, and dispose of weeds and kitchen scraps that otherwise might end up in the landfill
Issues:
-Noise: If you don’t have roosters, chickens aren’t noisy. Hens cluck and peep softly all day long and at their loudest are around 60-70 decibels (comparable to human conversation) a dogs bark is around 90-100 decibels
-Smell: Animals poop. Ten chickens will make about as much waste as a 40 lb. dog, and their coop won’t smell if it is kept clean. Much like a dog kennel.
-Predators: It should be the responsibility of the chicken owner to keep his or her chickens safe from predators — just like it is for cat owners, say — , and there is ample advice available on how to do so.
*Disease/ Avian flu (This issue was brought up by local factory farm in opposition to urban chickens in last discussions by Estherville City Council)
Avian flu is a concern to commercial poultry production where birds are raised in huge flocks in overcrowded confinement and fed the cheapest food possible. This causes high stress and compromised immune systems in the birds.
"When it comes to bird flu, diverse small-scale poultry is the solution, not the problem." (The 2006 Grain Report) The fact is that a few backyard chickens are more closely monitored than any bird raised in the masses.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website states- "There is no need at the present to remove a (family) flock of chickens because of concerns regarding avian flu."
Updates
April 27, 2016
The momentum behind this is incredible. Estherville is finally ready for backyard hens.
Reached 100 supporters
April 27, 2016
48 Comments
The city of Minneapolis, as well as many of the suburbs surrounding allow backyard hens! An agricultural community should embrace its heritage and culture by adopting an ordinance that allows this.
Growing and raising food on your own property is not a new idea, it's an American tradition with roots in the 'victory gardens' of WWI and WWII.
I grew up with chickens and honestly I never remember them being loud or smelly. In fact.. I barely noticed they were there.. The dog Kennel we had on the other hand I remember having to do much more maintenance to. Being a farm community it does seem kind of silly we can't have chickens.
I see no problem with it. If I had a home of my own I would definitely consider getting some of my own. There are some loud dogs in my neighborhood, some that bark all day long. Therefore no reason hens should not be allowed. I do agree with making sure proper clean up and care takes place. Best of luck with this petition!
Backyard chickens should not be to blame for spreading bird flu...the CDC states clearly that it is a naturally occurring virus in waterfowl...and there's no stopping ducks or other aquatic birds from roaming around.
My brother in laws chickens are 100+ feet from the road, tucked between and shed and garage, pinned in, and take up all of 25sq ft in the back yard. They are also 100+ feet from any neighbor. They cause no harm or distraction to any. Let them stay!
Nothing better then fresh eggs in the morning. I would take them over dogs and cats any day.
Those chickens aren't bothering anyone
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
The city of Minneapolis, as well as many of the suburbs surrounding allow backyard hens! An agricultural community should embrace its heritage and culture by adopting an ordinance that allows this.